Hydrangea arborescens

Common Name: smooth hydrangea

Native Range: Eastern United States

Zone: 3 to 9

Plant type & Form: loosely and widely branched deciduous shrub

Height: 3.00 to 5.00 feet

Spread: 3.00 to 5.00 feet

Bloom Time: June to September

Bloom Description: White

Flower:  A few large sterile flowers usually appear at the cluster margins

Leaf: opposite, broad egg-shaped to rounded, sharply toothed, dark green leaves (2-6” long) with pale green undersides

Sun: part shade, tolerates full sun if grown with consistent moisture

Water: intolerant of drought

Soil type & pH: can adapt to a variety of soil conditions

Maintenance: Low

Suggested Use: Naturalize, Rain Garden.  Can mass or group in part shade areas of the mixed shrub border, woodland garden or as background for a perennial border. Can naturalize in woodland or native plant gardens.

Tolerates: Rabbit, Erosion, Clay Soil, Dry Soil, Wet Soil, Shallow-Rocky Soil, Black Walnut

Notes: It is native to moist or rocky wooded slopes, ravines, stream banks and bluff bases

Identification notes: Look for large leaves with finely toothed edges and white ball shaped blooms.  These blooms will turn brown and stay on the plants through the winter.